INSIDER consulted Gabriella Risatti, owner of Gabriella New York, to find out what brides should be asking when picking a dress

Start shopping 10 months to a year in advance

Find out what type of gown is suitable for your figure

Find out if the price fits within your budget. Search the website or call the store for more information.

Any woman who has ever thought about getting married probably has some idea of the dress she wants to walk down the aisle in. Maybe you've even bought a few bridal magazines over the years, just in case.

But, once it gets down with it, it can be downright daunting to narrow down what you want in a dress. INSIDER spoke with Gabriella Risatti, owner of Gabriella New York; a wedding dress shop in NYC. The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has helped thousands of brides all over the world say yes to the dress.

Risatti gave us the scoop on what women should be asking when searching for their dream wedding dress.

When should I start dress shopping?

How you approach dress shopping depends on your wedding date. If you've got some time to spare, Risatti suggested getting started at least 10 months to a year in advance based on her experience.

"It takes about three or four months to make the gown," she told INSIDER. "And then you'd like to have three to four months to alter the gown. So if you do that we're talking six to eight months for the process. That's not leaving you any room to really shop. So that's why we say ten months to a year is ideal."

That's not to say an expedited process isn't possible but the sooner the better.

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Is the store reputable?

Kleinfeld Bridal of "Say Yes to the Dress."
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Such a major purchase can't be taken lightly so you want to make sure your business is in good hands. Risatti suggested asking friends and family for their own recommendations. Also, it's important to look for reviews. Of course, take some with a grain of salt, but what are the majority saying? And if there is a bad review, what specifically is the reason? And if you call to make the appointment, what is the experience you have? Finally, look at the designers they have and whether they match your wedding day aesthetic and price points.

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Do I need to make an appointment?

Appointments usually ensure the bride gets a consultant.
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It's highly unlikely that a store is going to turn you away without an appointment but setting one up comes with added benefits.

"The good thing about having an appointment is that you know you're going to have someone dedicated to you and when you call you can get as much or as little information as you want," Risatti told us. "If you have a certain style or price point they can have that set up before the visit or you can start from scratch."

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How long do appointments usually take?

This varies by bridal salon but Risatti estimated an hour and 15 minutes at her store with an extra 15 minute buffer for good measure.

"If the bride decides to purchase and we need to do paperwork or if she's just not really sure it takes a little longer," she said. "We kind of buffer it in so that everyone actually has an hour and a half."

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What type of gown will suit my figure and wedding venue?

There are many dresses and details to consider.
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Most women have a vision of what their perfect dress should look like and, thanks to apps like Pinterest and Instagram, are usually teeming with ideas before the first meeting with their bridal stylist. But the reality might be a bit different.

"I think that because there is so much out there now, because of social media and the internet, girls find stuff that they like and they come in with these pictures. But sometimes they don't stop to think about or ask if that is the best style for their body type, their venue, the type of wedding that they're having, the season, or the time of year," Risatti told INSIDER. "So if a girl comes in with pictures and she wants this heavy satin ball gown and she's getting married in August, that's probably not a great idea or you're going to be super hot."

Your best bet is to ask the stylist for his or her recommendation. After all, they're the experts and it's their job to know what looks best on you. Then it's up to you decide which of those is best for you.

What happens if I lose or gain weight before the wedding?

Many brides (and grooms!) will prioritize fitness ahead of their wedding day, with some even aiming to lose weight. But Risatti suggested proceeding with caution.

"Don't go on a crash diet and lose 30 pounds so that your fiancé doesn't recognize you as you're walking down the aisle," she warned. "I know people can put a lot of pressure on themselves, but we would never order a gown for a bride based on her goal weight. We would take her measurements at the time of purchase and we can adjust it and alter it if she does happen to lose weight."

Even if a massive body overhaul isn't in your plans, you might inadvertently need a few alterations. "Sometimes you plan to run a marathon and might lose weight or add muscle you didn't have before," explained Risatti. "So you do have to be mindful of that when shopping."

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What should I bring to the fitting?

Bring undergarments and the actual shoes you plan to wear.
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You may not have the dress in hand yet, but there are a few items you should have to make the process a little easier.

"What we recommend is bringing any undergarments that you think you might wear on the day of your wedding to your fitting," said Risatti. "And definitely bring your shoes. Do not go to a fitting without the shoes. Not just a similar shoe, but the actual one."

Some bridal shops, like Risatti's, can add custom cups to the dress so ask your stylist if that's a service that's offered.

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How many fittings will I need?

"We do three fittings and I think that's pretty standard," said Risatti. "We like to start our process pretty far before the wedding just in case there are any issues whatsoever, it gives us enough time to fix it. And then we do another fitting a month and a half later, and we usually do a final fitting about two weeks before the wedding. That does account for if there is any last minute weight gain."

Of course, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind or maybe the dress just won't fit. Stylists will take that into consideration and schedule fittings accordingly.

Will I have the same seamstress at all fittings?

Ideally, you want to have the same seamstress working on your fittings throughout the process to ensure consistency. Risatti employs that method at her bridal salon.

"You work with the same seamstress the entire time and then we also have an alterations manager so you would see that person every time as well, and an alterations assistant," she said. "We think it's really important to have consistency so that nothing is lost in the communication, like if you're talking to a different person every time. The actual person who worked on your dress is the person you're having your next fitting with."

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Can I bring a guest?

Too many guests can overwhelm the bride.
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When making such a monumental decision, it always helps to bring a trusted friend or family member. But Risatti warned against bringing too many guests out of consideration for the other customers.

She capped her limit at five after an experience where a group of 12, including children, were disruptive. And there's another very practical reason.

"It's overwhelming for the bride," she told INSIDER. "She's not making a decision on her wedding dress with all of those people giving her feedback."

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What can I expect to pay for the dress?

As with everything, there is a massive range in price. Risatti recommended doing some research or asking up front.

"On my website I put the price range clearly for each designer," she said. "Find out what price range the stores have and compare to your budget. If it's not on the website, call and find out the prices or just a general range."

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What additional fees should I expect to pay?

"It varies," Risatti told INSIDER. "Generally speaking it's just the price of the gown and then the price of the alterations. The only additional fees that anyone would pay is if they want to have their gown shipped somewhere or if they make any customizations. The good thing about made to order gowns is the ability to make minor changes like pattern changes or extra fabric.That will often incur a fee."

Find out your bridal salon's policy so there will be no surprises later on.

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When do I pay for the dress?

Some bridal salons may differ, but Risatti said her store's payment plan is pretty standard across the industry.

"You pay 50% at the time of purchase and then you pay the balance when the gown comes in. We don't alter a gown or ship it unless it's been paid in full," she said. "You can pay in full at the start if you want but we only require half."

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What is your cancellation policy?

Based on the contract you sign at Gabriella New York, there is no cancellation. "Once you buy that dress it's yours," Risatti said. "That's just because the gown is being made for you. It's not like someone else can use it."

But fear not. Risatti pointed out that there are extenuating circumstances which warrant consideration. "If someone's canceling their wedding gown, that's usually not for a happy or good reason so we don't want to make that any worse."

Depending on whether or not the designer has already cut the fabric, the bride may only have to forgo her deposit or make a partial payment.

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Do your offer preservation services after the wedding?

So you may have gotten a little wild on the dance floor and your dress is not as white as it once was. All is not lost. For their part, Gabriella New York partners with a preservation company, which cleans, preserves, and boxes dresses for brides in any part of the world. Find out if your bridal salon offers a similar service.